After Dark in the Park: What Happened at the Summit of Kīlauea in 2018?

January 22, 2019

In early May 2018, as the lava lake within Halemaʻumaʻu dropped, concern grew that explosive eruptions at the summit of Kīlauea, like those in 1924, could occur. Some explosions did occur, sending plumes of ash high into the air. But what followed was even more dramatic: the largest summit collapse since at least 1800, accompanied by thousands of earthquakes that caused extensive damage to HVO’s building and National Park infrastructure. Along with colleagues, USGS geophysicist Kyle Anderson closely monitored the summit activity as it unfolded, creating models to understand what was happening—and what might happen next. Please join Kyle as he talks about the extraordinary events that took place at Kilauea’s summit this summer and how those events have helped scientists better understand Kīlauea and other volcanoes around the world. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes’ ongoing After Dark in the Park series, in partnership with USGS “Volcano Awareness Month.” Free (park entrance fees may apply).

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